MODIFIER AND POLYMER INTERACTIONS IN METAL-MODIFIED POLYIMIDE COMPOSITES

A sulfur-containing polyimide precursor has been modified by the homog eneous addition of tris(2,4-pentanedionato)iron(III) or tris(1-phenyl- 2,4-pentanedionato)iron(III). The synthesis of the resulting free-stan ding film of iron-modified polyimide via thermal condensation is also described. It was observed that the presence of iron promoted the oxid ation of the thioether moiety in the polyimide backbone as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and reflectance Fourier tran sform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The effect of cure atmosphere on the oxidation of the sulfur, the thermal properties of the composite, and the distribution of iron oxide particles within the free-standing film are also examined.